Jack Smith had been the basketball team manager since he was a student in the 1960s. He had been available to help coaches and players ever since.

Smith had a developmental disability, but people in the Liberty High School family said no one thought of him that way.

Basketball coach Roger Stirtz said it would be hard to get used to the idea that Smith won't be around.

"I know where he's going to be during the game on the bench when there's a time out. He's right there," he said. "I always got a clipboard from him every time out. And I'm going to miss that tonight, and that's going to be tough."

The school left Smith's chair on the bench empty Thursday, except for a photo of Smith and his camera.